The 2025 Investec SA Open Champion – Dylan Naidoo
After a sluggish start to the year, Arjuna Awardee Shubhankar Sharma registered his first cut of the season on the European (DP World) Tour at the $1.5 million Investec South African Open Championship, while Dylan Naidoo, of Indian origin, secured his maiden tour title in a dramatic finish at the Durban Country Club.
Sharma had shown early promise with a 6-under 66 in the opening round, his best score of the season, placing him tied-7th. However, subsequent rounds of 72 and 76 saw him slip to tied-58th with a tournament total of 2-under 214, as the weather-affected tournament at Durban Country Club reduced to 54 holes after the final round was first suspended, and later canceled due to a flooded course.
In the growing prevalence of Indian-origin golfers contending and being in the winner’s circle on the international stage, local favorite Dylan Naidoo of Indian heritage, claimed his maiden DP World Tour title with a play-off victory on home soil.
27-year-old Naidoo was locked in a tie at the top of the leaderboard on 14-under-par with Englishman Laurie Canter. Naidoo birdied the first playoff hole to clinch a historic win and become the first South African of colour to win this event, also earning a spot in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush from July 17-20 this year.
The only two Indians with playing rights on the DP World Tour—Shubhankar and Veer Ahlawat —will be teeing it up in the last stop on the International Swing of the tour, the $1.12 million Joburg Open in Johannesburg from March 6-9, a tournament that Shubhankar had won back in 2017.